Seoul vows continued Ukraine aid despite POW row
Summary
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday it would continue supporting Ukraine despite a diplomatic dispute over Kyiv’s transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul. The ministry official said Seoul would maintain its principled position on assistance, while President Lee Jae Myung had pledged $100 million in comprehensive aid at a NATO summit in July. The dispute followed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s September disclosure of the transfer, which Seoul said should have remained confidential. The two countries’ foreign ministers met in Paris on Wednesday, with both expressing hope for resolving outstanding issues and normalizing relations.
Key Facts
- The JoongAng Ilbo reported that the Foreign Ministry requested about $100 million for Ukraine in next year’s budget, including $50 million for a NATO trust fund and $20 million in humanitarian assistance.
- Lee said South Korea would provide humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians and participate in international efforts to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.
- Seoul demanded an apology over the disclosure and recalled its ambassador to Ukraine and some embassy staff in protest.
- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv was willing to develop a dynamic and pragmatic partnership with Seoul based on mutual interests and shared security threats posed by North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war.
Rep. Yu Yong-weon of South Korea's main opposition People Power Party explains pictures, showing two North Korean priosoners of war who were recently transferred from Ukraine to South Korea, taken during his visit to a POW camp in Ukraine last February, at his office at the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, Sept. 28. Reuters-Yonhap
South Korea's foreign ministry said Thursday it would maintain its commitment to supporting Ukraine despite a diplomatic dispute over Kyiv's transfer of North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
"As a responsible member of the international community, we will continue to maintain our principled position on providing assistance to Ukraine," a foreign ministry official told AFP.
The JoongAng Ilbo newspaper reported this week that the foreign ministry requested around $100 million in aid for Ukraine in next year's budget, including $50 million for a NATO trust fund and $20 million in humanitarian assistance.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in July that the country had pledged $100 million in comprehensive assistance to Ukraine at a NATO summit.
"Our government will continue to provide humanitarian assistance needed by the Ukrainian people while also taking part in international efforts to support Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction," Lee said at the time.
The foreign ministry official's comment followed tensions between the two countries sparked by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s disclosure in September that Ukraine had sent to Seoul two North Korean prisoners who were captured while fighting for Russia.
South Korea said the operation should have remained confidential to protect the soldiers' families in North Korea, demanding an apology and recalling its ambassador to Ukraine and some embassy staff in protest.
The two countries' foreign ministers met in Paris on Wednesday for the first time since the row, with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun saying he hoped "that all outstanding issues between the two countries will be resolved amicably".
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X that he had reaffirmed Kyiv's willingness to develop a "dynamic and pragmatic partnership" with Seoul, based on mutual interests and shared security threats posed by North Korea's involvement in Russia's war.
"We are grateful to the Republic of Korea for supporting Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Sybiha said.
"I am convinced that further steps lie ahead towards the full normalization of our bilateral relations," he added.
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